Tory Farina

Starting Point Starts this Wednesday...

Starting Point Promo - "This Is My Starting Point" from North Point Media on Vimeo.

I am so excited as our connection groups are taking off. This week I want to promo a group I have been apart of and think is absolutely Life Changing! Brian Kirchner is hosting this group and will be leading the discussions as you discover a deeper relationship with God in your Life!

What is Starting Point?
Starting Point is a conversational environment where people can explore faith and experience community. Starting Point groups are a safe place for people with questions about faith, as well as those who want to learn about the Bible and Christianity. Groups meet for about 10 weeks and together explore the grand story of the Bible. One of the goals of Starting Point is to help participants find their places in the story.

Who is it for?

Seekers - those who are curious about God, Jesus, the Bible, or Christianity

Starters - those who have just begun a relationship with Jesus Christ

Returners - those who have some church experience, but have been away for a while

For more information our details touch base at the welcome center on Sunday, Email kirchner.Brian@gmail.com or Pastor Mike@HighPointChurch.tv.  If you are looking for another group to Life Life Connected with Check out our fall Connection group guide.

Connection Groups Spring '09...

It is time for the new and improved season of Connection Groups. We have some great groups this season and a lot of diversity as well. Come ready to sign up on Sunday and lets LIVE LIFE CONNECTED!
Download CGbrochurespring09

Gideon's Strengths

Tonight as apart of my connection group we are taking a look at different people in the bible and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. This week was Gideon.

Read Judges 6-8
This is an amazing story of a man who didn't see himself truthfully. Didn't see the leader that God saw.
judges 6:12 LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
Gideons story is that of a man unraveling his leadership abilities. Here is a list of a few of his strengths that we pointed out tonight.

Strengths:

• Discernment- judges 6:17-18; 36-40
• Organization- judges 7:8
• negotiator- judges 8:2-3
• Humility- Judges 8: 23-24

This is not exhaustive but was a lot of fun to talk about. Their was much much more but I thought I would give you a glimpse into "GO". I love living life connected and sharing this Strengths concept with people.

I ended the night with this question. What is God calling out in you? for Gideon it was "Mighty Warrior". What is the inner strength God wants to call out in you?

The Best at...

What are you the best at?
I am working on my connection group tonight and we are studying Marcus Buckingham's book "GO" and also looking at a bible story. Marcus says that we are all predisposed to certain strengths and gifts and abilities that make us the best at some things and horrible at others. Basically God designed us to be out of balance or rather Specialists.

I totally agree. I am one of the most unbalanced people I know. I have struggled with this my whole life. I am not good at sports and barely passed gym but felt I needed to work on it. I was a great public speaker but couldn't remember my lines so I learned how to ad lib really well and found success in a comedy sports team. In College I wasn't great at studying but was great at big concepts. I felt the pressure to be great at the things I was not and have built patterns today based on my attempt to compensate.

I am reworking my life this past year. I want to live in the sweet spot of my strengths and abilities. Trying to change the way I prepare for my messages. Allowing the preparation to aid my Sunday morning presentation and not hold me down to a manuscript I cant remember anyways. Typing instead of trying for the five millionth time to work on my handwriting skills. Spending more time with people and less time in the office.

I am the best in our organization at things and the best in my family at things and the best in the world at things. The Trick is to figure them out and live doing mostly those things. The things God originally designed me to be.

Take a look at your life. What are you the best at? What do you need to cut out so that you can spend more time doing the things that you are designed for? What makes you feel energized, excited and refreshed?  Let me know.

Live Life Connected pt2

Connection Groups are in full effect. Connex in Effex. I love this time of year. "Go" was last night for me. The conference room was full, we laughed, we talked about King David and how we in our lives have to take the step out of the abyss of weakness and into the pointed purpose of Strengths.

We have had a great running start to our connection groups. I have heard good report from "Kick Boxing" and am excited about the other groups we have going on. It is just good to spend time with people who you wave to have a few minute convo on Sunday and now can really get to know. I love it. We are going to see such positive things from this session of connection groups.

If your interested in mine the table is almost full so leave a comment and let me know. Also if you were at the group leave a comment about what you thought.

Live life Connected. Its the only way to live.

Google Calendar & Connection Groups

Live Life Connected

Connection Groups start next week. Pastor Mike did another great job putting this together. We have a goal at High Point we want to have at least 50% or more of our adult Sunday morning attendance in a connection group and or serving in a ministry team. We have well over a hundred individual names in our volunteer roster and each trimester of connection groups we have close to 70% of our adult attendance in groups.

We find that a biblical model of discipleship is to live life connected in faith building community. I can not be everyone's best friend and discipler, as much as I wish I could. Jesus was only able to have 12 and I am not Jesus. But what I can do is create environments that are self feeding. I and the pastoral Team create self feeding opportunities that encourage people to grow and tae responsibility for that growth. We want you to individually fulfill Gods best for your life. That means seeing your friends and family come to Christ who do not know him.

When you bring someone who doesn't fallow Christ Sunday is a great place for them to discover more, But the real deal is that it is your responsibility to help them grow. So like the Olympic Volleyball team, We set the ball so you can spike it. Connection groups are an awesome place to Find Your Place- Develop Your Faith- and Live Your Potential.

I meet people every time we do connection groups who tell me they have found some of their best friends in connection groups. Others found a place of Hope when they were going through a dark time their. I personally love it because I get to talk about stuff I like with people who are mutually interested. Whatever your reason Connection groups are for you. Check them out.

Download the PDF here

Download cgbrochure1_f08.pdf

trombone player wanted

I am thinking about using this video and going through the book "Go put your strengths to work" by Marcus Buckingham for my next connection group. I loved his other stuff on strengths and have looked this over. It looks to be promising and good to lead people into there potential with. Anyone have a review?